Chapter 39
English Lit: Edexcel A Level The Handmaid's Tale, topic 2.12.9
Chapter 39 - Summary and Key Quotations
The action moves to one of the hotel rooms. The Commander gets Offred alone to have sex with her.
Offred's thoughts during sex
- While he is trying to seduce her, Offred cannot stop thinking about Moira telling her that she had seen her mother in a film about the "unwomen" in the Colonies.
- She remembers being with Luke when she discovered that her mother had disappeared.
- The Commander says that he wants Offred to enjoy the sex but she is not interested at all. She goes along with it because she doesn't want to displease him.
"The same... serviced"
- "The drapes are the same"
- Irony. Previously, Offred visited with her lover. Now, she visits with a Commander who uses her for sex and nothing more.
- "Serena wants me serviced"
- This references the plan for Offred to sleep with Nick to get pregnant. The verb "serviced" indicates that this is a purely mechanical action, like having a vehicle serviced.
"Dead bird... afford pride"
- "I lie there like a dead bird... I can't afford pride or aversion"
- Offred is aware that she's powerless in her relationship with the Commander. In the Ceremonies, she's supposed to suppress any reaction. But here, she's trying to get her body to respond as if she has an emotional or physical response.
- The entire sex scene is awkward and creates an atmosphere of deadness.
Test yourself on Chapter 39
What is Offred thinking about while the Commander tries to seduce her?
What does Offred say are "the same" in the room?